Ayodhya dispute: The leaders who led the Babri Masjid demolition

As a special CBI court begins hearing the case for criminal conspiracy in the Babri Masjid case against top BJP leaders, here's a who's who of the top people involved.

&nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspIndiatimes, Representative Image

Mumbai: December 6, 1992, is arguably the darkest day in Independent India's history when the secular fabric encasing multiple Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders was stripped away to reveal the beating saffron heart underneath. Babri Masjid was razed to the ground by a mob of fanatical 'karsevaks' who were allegedly instigated by volatile speeches delivered by senior leaders L K Advani, Murli Mahohar Joshi and Uma Bharti amongst others.

The then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh tendered his resignation almost immediately after the destruction of the first dome but the Congress government at the Centre rejected his resignation and called for his dismissal. President's Rule was imposed in the State. It wasn't long before communal riots burst out in Ayodhya which led to the deaths of more than 2000 people.

The Supreme Court (SC) on April 19, 2017, restored a plea seeking restoration of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders – LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti – in the Babri Masjid demolition case after 25 years. On Tuesday, a plea seeking their discharge from the conspiracy charges was turned down by the court. Here's a who's who of the people charged with the “national crime” that shook the secular fabric of the Constitution.

LK Advani

The court's decision will likely hit Advani the most considering that he was plugged as a frontrunner for the President's post once Pranab Mukherjee's term expires.

Former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has alleged that the case against the top BJP leader was re-introduced at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the act was "well-thought-out politics" to ensure L K Advani was removed from the Presidential race.

"The CBI is under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It stood in the Supreme Court and sought permission to run trial against Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition case," Lalu alleged.

Uma Bharti

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said that it was a conspiracy against her and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She also blamed the Congress party for demanding her resignation after the SC’s decision to restore the criminal charges against the main accused in the Babri demolition case.

“Ready to sacrifice my life for Ram Mandir; I am unapologetic about being part of Ayodhya movement,” she added.

“This decision to re-open the case is a conspiracy against the party but we will abide by the decision and face it," he said.

Kalyan Singh

While all the accused leaders face trial, only Kalyan Singh's trial has been deferred as he enjoys Constitutional immunity as Rajasthan Governor.

The SC had said: "Since Kalyan Singh enjoys Constitutional immunity as Rajasthan Governor, he can be tried only after he ceases to hold office."

Murli Manohar Joshi

It is alleged that Joshi along with his pantheon of top BJP leaders made speeches that contributed to the mob's militant chanting and restlessness. Once the mob had broken through the police cordon, Joshi made "feeble requests to the kar sevaks to come down... either in earnest or for the media's benefit" says a 2009 report authored by Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan.

Bal Thackeray

The Shiv Sena supremo had constantly praised the demolition of the Babri Masjid and had even stated that he was proud of the way Shiv Sainiks had behaved during the demolition in a 1993 interview with Rajat Sharma.

"We are proud, there is no shame in this matter. We brought down the Babri Masjid and brought the Ram Mandir buried underneath upwards," the patriarch had said.

Ayodhya dispute: The leaders who led the Babri Masjid demolitionDescription:As a special CBI court begins hearing the case for criminal conspiracy in the Babri Masjid case against top BJP leaders, here's a who's who of the top people involved.Times Now